tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7956514731567726245..comments2015-08-02T20:23:11.186-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: The Mikado baritone / SUN 2-12-12 / Rathskeller vessel / Superboy's sweetie / Supply at French smoke shop / Actresses Dana Judith / Macedonian city with Greek and Roman ruins / Classic fragrance sold in France as Mon PecheRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42306751766916295592012-02-23T14:44:14.142-05:002012-02-23T14:44:14.142-05:00At the risk of being drubbed with a cocaine spoon,...At the risk of being drubbed with a cocaine spoon, I would proffer that, yes, Whitney&#39;s passing marks the tragic death of a beautiful woman with a great voice. But IMO her musical choices were mostly gag-inducing treacle and a waste of her talent. Meanwhile, the recent deaths of two FAR more musically important figures -- Etta James and Johnny Otis (look &#39;em up, young&#39;uns) --received way less attention. Of course, they weren&#39;t 48 when they went, although Etta was also a drug addict. And they weren&#39;t fawned over by a mass media that is increasingly musically illiterate.<br /><br />(For more on Etta, check out my radio tribute at http://www.radiofreeamsterdam.com/tag/red-rooster-lounge/)Cary in Bouldernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68290968665423501322012-02-19T16:53:08.546-05:002012-02-19T16:53:08.546-05:00After I picked up the theme I was able to get most...After I picked up the theme I was able to get most of the theme answers from the clues alone (few if any crosses). First guess at 47d was CURL UP WITH A BOOKIE, which kinda creeped me out. Glad that didn&#39;t hold up. Actual answer was my favorite.<br /><br />It&#39;s a mockumented fact that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu3T_2GzXSo" rel="nofollow">The Rutles</a> honed their skills in a Hamburg club called the Rat Kellar. Incidentally, &quot;Rat Keller&quot; means, literally in German, &quot;cellar of rats&quot;. That&#39;s not &quot;seller of rats&quot;, a seller of rats, a person who sells rats for a living to another man as it were, of course not. That means, a cellar...of rats.<br /><br />Foreign language lesson #2: <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dieu-du-ciel-peche-mortel/11461/" rel="nofollow">Péché Mortel</a> is French for &quot;Mortal Sin&quot;. If you&#39;ve ever enjoyed this sublime brew you will never forget that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8861783465626169382012-02-19T13:29:40.300-05:002012-02-19T13:29:40.300-05:00Well, since the Las Vegas Sun saw fit, in its infi...Well, since the Las Vegas Sun saw fit, in its infinite wisdom, to devote its entire Sunday content to Muhammad Ali&#39;s 70th birthday celebration/charity drive (to which, BTW, I have NO objection), I am left without this puzzle. I just came here to see what it was all about--it doesn&#39;t appear that I missed a fantastic experience--and to honor two truly great African-Americans. Whitney and Muhammad, would that we deserved your gifts. Thank you.Spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80917211322720591182012-02-19T11:19:46.856-05:002012-02-19T11:19:46.856-05:00From the syndicate, I finished only because BOOKER...From the syndicate, I finished only because BOOKER T came along and showed me the rebus, plus some lucky guesses all mentioned by others. In the Army an SFC is an E-7 non-commissioned officer and not at all obscure to veterans.<br /><br />About Whitney, @Gill I.P. said, &quot;A beautiful candle has been extinguished.&quot; So lovely and so true.Dirigonzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79943674072093650482012-02-15T21:35:02.403-05:002012-02-15T21:35:02.403-05:00Not only was there too much European geography, th...Not only was there too much European geography, the constructor abused correct Japanese in 105d; who would ever order a &quot;saki&quot; to go with sushi?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49142155269020117752012-02-15T16:51:42.703-05:002012-02-15T16:51:42.703-05:00For Betrob. I just got it - M and M&#39;s from Mar...For Betrob. I just got it - M and M&#39;s from Mars candy co. The caps make all the difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65844125842846220022012-02-15T16:43:17.178-05:002012-02-15T16:43:17.178-05:00Donkey&#39;s Years is a very Brit. expression and ...Donkey&#39;s Years is a very Brit. expression and yes, it means a long time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17491386845422891242012-02-13T23:45:44.861-05:002012-02-13T23:45:44.861-05:00Un bel homme, un bel ami ... are very common phras...Un bel homme, un bel ami ... are very common phrases. Why Henri in this case, I&#39;m not sure. But you could expect to hear something like: &quot;Voilà le bel Henri!&quot; which would translate (with a hint of sarcasm) as &quot;There goes that Henry guy!... he thinks he&#39;s so s*** hot.&quot; <br />In French the H is silent so you need the L for the &quot;liaison&quot;. The hard H is confusing to a Quebecois. For fun, try getting one to say &quot; I hope so.&quot; It will often come out as &quot;Hi &#39;ope so! &quot;Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56185148335750511592012-02-13T09:08:17.300-05:002012-02-13T09:08:17.300-05:00The distinction is not between Superboy and Clark ...The distinction is not between Superboy and Clark but between Superboy and Superman. Lois is tied mostly to the grown-up Superman and Lana to Superboy, I think, which would be in Smallville, as you say.Loisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91071245197729653792012-02-13T03:34:02.651-05:002012-02-13T03:34:02.651-05:00@betrob: Are you new? don&#39;t think I&#39;ve he...@betrob: Are you new? don&#39;t think I&#39;ve heard from you before. Parse this as &quot;M and Ms&quot;.Rubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773241241484881566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64517240547326077002012-02-13T01:40:23.063-05:002012-02-13T01:40:23.063-05:00In pinochle, ten ranks above the king.In pinochle, ten ranks above the king.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58564887680429576972012-02-13T00:55:36.238-05:002012-02-13T00:55:36.238-05:00I&#39;m a late night puzzle doer and found no comm...I&#39;m a late night puzzle doer and found no comment about &quot;mandms&quot;. Am I missing something? (74D)betrobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34331580091224827062012-02-12T22:19:49.382-05:002012-02-12T22:19:49.382-05:00LS/MFT or Lucky AS H(ell)?!LS/MFT or Lucky AS H(ell)?!Big Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64579312694148370302012-02-12T21:42:28.604-05:002012-02-12T21:42:28.604-05:00Sparky (and Smitty)- Magic&#39;s first name is Erv...Sparky (and Smitty)- Magic&#39;s first name is Ervin.jackjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699305265544975575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91716955564366069992012-02-12T20:34:10.984-05:002012-02-12T20:34:10.984-05:00Got the theme at Deliver the good (book)s.
No tro...Got the theme at Deliver the good (book)s.<br /><br />No trouble with donnish, or mon peche, but anticipating regret, had to ask husband for the Mars candy.<br /><br />Guessed Elea/Edessa.<br /><br />Enjoyed the book theme. <br /><br />Surprised Rex did not get Halston earlier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78281219631215182062012-02-12T19:34:36.462-05:002012-02-12T19:34:36.462-05:00It&#39;s toasted!It&#39;s toasted!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77460459405171477882012-02-12T19:15:14.079-05:002012-02-12T19:15:14.079-05:00The Rochester Institute of Technology had (has?) a...The Rochester Institute of Technology had (has?) a watering-hole called the &quot;Ritskeller.&quot;<br />Locally known as the &quot;Rat-shelter,&quot; I associate it with vomiting undergrads.Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58637038201822949262012-02-12T18:41:20.957-05:002012-02-12T18:41:20.957-05:00Landry or LSMFT if auto correct would desist. Luck...Landry or LSMFT if auto correct would desist. Lucky/ash. Wonderful. Lucky Strike Means Fine TobaccoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45254327400858961512012-02-12T18:33:57.830-05:002012-02-12T18:33:57.830-05:00Like rebuses and these were tricky enough to provi...Like rebuses and these were tricky enough to provide some fun. Knew DONNISH and DONKEYSYEARS I guess from reading Dorothy Sayers. MYSIN big in its day, with weekly ads in The New Yorker. 101D cALLTO held me up though. So, @ArtLvr right. Donnish oldsters. <br /><br />There is a song My Bel Ami and, years ago a movie with George Sanders, The Private Affairs of Bel Ami. I Googled to confirm all this stuff and it&#39;s from the late 1940s and thereafter. Too bad my short term memory isn&#39;t that good.<br /><br />@Smitty. Also tried to think of Magic&#39;s frist name. <br /><br />Nice tribute to Whitney Houston. Gone way too soon. Thanks Rex.Sparkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11149915526159432838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82192147458686957092012-02-12T18:23:00.545-05:002012-02-12T18:23:00.545-05:00Both the somewhat troublesome donnish and donkey&#...Both the somewhat troublesome donnish and donkey&#39;s years are very common in UK English. Tutors, professors, etc. at Oxford and Cambridge are known as dons. And there is an interesting theory that donkey&#39;s years was originally donkey&#39;s ears - Cockney rhyming slang for &quot;years&quot;. If you said &quot;I haven&#39;t seen Fred in donkeys&quot; most oldster Londoners would know what you meant (i.e. for ages).Phil McHalenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80095750452070934852012-02-12T17:36:57.117-05:002012-02-12T17:36:57.117-05:00Liked this puzzle a lot! Two of the theme express...Liked this puzzle a lot! Two of the theme expressions--APPLE PIE ORDER and DONKEY&#39;SYEAR--were complete unknowns to me, so those two areas were tough, but the rest was easy.Matthew G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07957320012395569238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16061802152643142072012-02-12T17:18:43.281-05:002012-02-12T17:18:43.281-05:00My favorite Whitney Houston hit was &quot;I Will A...My favorite Whitney Houston hit was &quot;I Will Always Love You.&quot;<br /><br />Her version accompanies this moving youtube clip.<br /><br />http://youtu.be/ZDZaWgf_bk0loren muse smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05308030011870397977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16421594305032085592012-02-12T16:38:00.282-05:002012-02-12T16:38:00.282-05:00@Anon: That&#39;s as in Lucky Strike cigarettes
...@Anon: That&#39;s as in Lucky Strike cigarettes<br /><br />@LMS, (LSM FT?): You&#39;re good.Limericknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80006451329094484162012-02-12T16:36:29.784-05:002012-02-12T16:36:29.784-05:00Anon 3:51: the ASH on the end of a Lucky Strike ci...Anon 3:51: the ASH on the end of a Lucky Strike cigarette, aka a Lucky. <br /><br />(I gave them up almost 30 years ago which is one of the reasons I&#39;m still alive.)Mel Ottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85739965340366836272012-02-12T16:25:09.693-05:002012-02-12T16:25:09.693-05:00Hmmm! I had no problem with DONNISH and guessed ri...Hmmm! I had no problem with DONNISH and guessed right on the last letter of EDESSA, but I made a classic mistake, for 47D I threw in MEETyourBOOKMAKER. Which of course had me stumped since none of the crosses worked and I couldn&#39;t figure out how to spell AGUILERA.<br /><br />Of course, after coming here, I see that &quot;your&quot; is in the clue. My bad.<br /><br />Haven&#39;t done that WSJ puzzle yet, it is sitting on my printer...<br /><br />quitch--what I sometimes feel when I should either quit or bitchskua76http://www.blogger.com/profile/15450051465313263422noreply@blogger.com